Wireless system for providing critical sensor alerts for equipment

ABSTRACT

A wireless system is provided which enables a remotely located equipment monitor to control the equipment in the event that more than one alert or alarm for the same fault condition, at the equipment have been ignored by the equipment operator. Control options include instructing the operator to shut equipment down, automatically shutting the equipment down and putting the equipment in a safe mode of operation.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/688,626, filed on Jun. 7, 2005.

BACKGROUND

Monitoring and managing equipment in remote locations presents achallenging task, particularly for equipment leasing companies. Thistask becomes even more challenging for mobile equipment such as heavyconstruction vehicles. Notification in real time of problems which occurin the field can prove to be very useful in scheduling maintenance.Operation of equipment in such a manner which may create additionalequipment problems or which may exacerbate existing problems remainsproblematic.

There are currently systems which monitor the operation of a remotelylocated piece of equipment including its location. In instances wherethe machine is operating outside of a designated geographical area,there exist disclosure of security systems which serve to shut down apiece of equipment. See U.S. Published Patent Application 200040073468to Vyas et al. Additionally, while it is known that existing systems cangive alerts or alarms to equipment operators in case of equipmentmalfunction, until now, no systems currently exist which allow theequipment owner or leasing entity to take control of equipment whenthose alerts or alarms are ignored so as to prevent equipment damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an equipment management system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating how each sensor and/or controlleron a piece of equipment is used to monitor or control a piece ofequipment or system or function on a piece of equipment.

Applicable reference numbers have been carried forward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A wireless equipment management system 2 is provided for managingequipment 4, e.g., mobile or non-mobile machines.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of equipment management system 2.FIG. 1 shows a plurality of monitored equipment 4 (coupled to dataprocessing center 6 through wireless communications link 8 representedby arrows). Equipment 4 can represent heavy equipment, office equipment,surface, land and air vehicles, etc. This includes engines, automobiles,trucks, construction, agricultural or earthmoving equipment, computers,consumer electronics, copiers, printers, facsimile machines, et cetera(communications link 8 can include a satellite data link, an analogcellular telephone communications link (using, for instance, frequencydivision multiple access (FDMA), a digital cellular communications link(using e.g., code division multiple access (CDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), etc.) a radio link, Bluetooth, Wi-fi(802.11a,802.11b, 802.11g etc.), or a combination thereof. Data processing center6 receives status information related to monitored equipment 4. In oneaspect, each monitored piece of equipment 4 can include one or moresensors 12 for measuring equipment usage or operating characteristics.In one embodiment, data processing center 6 receives signals, viacommunications link 8 from the one or more sensors 12, containing datarelating to equipment usage and/or operating characteristics. Thereceived data is stored at data processing center 6 which can adaptivelytrack the operation of each piece of monitored equipment 4 based on datafrom sensors 12. For example, one of equipment 4 shown could representan engine wherein a sensor 12 measures odometer mileage. Another sensor12 can measure, for instance, ambient operating temperatures. An oilchange maintenance schedule and an oil type can be calculated at dataprocessing center 6 based upon the data supplied by sensors 12. Forinstance under predominantly and relatively high ambient temperatures, ahigher weight oil and more frequent oil change scheduling at shorterodometer mileage intervals between scheduled oil changes may beprescribed to reduce engine wear. Predominantly cooler ambienttemperatures over longer odometer readings may dictate a lower weightoil with more miles between oil changes. Consequently, an engine orpiece of heavy equipment operating in area near the Sahara Desert inAfrica could have an entirely different maintenance schedule from thesame engine operating in Iceland as determined by processing center 6.Alternatively, in the case of a copier or facsimile machine sensor 12can measure toner levels and copier usage hours to adaptively determinetoner cartridge replacement scheduling and/or ordering. In addition,should a fault condition occur at the monitored equipment, such as nooil sensed in the engine, an alarm or alert can be processed to theequipment operator.

Data processing center 6 can contain one or more servers which operateto run computer programs that manage alerts and/or prepare equipmentmaintenance schedules for a plurality of equipment 4. Equipmentoperating data, historical usage data, maintenance schedules andequipment location information can also be tracked and maintained by oneor more servers at data processing center 6.

Equipment manager 14 within data processing center 6 can be implementedas a server programmed to calculate operation recommendations in thecase of alerts and servicing schedules for each monitored piece ofequipment 4. Data on each monitored piece of equipment can be maintainedin memory storage represented by functional block 16 as accomplished,for instance, in the same server as that for equipment manager 14 or ina separate server therefrom for storage of collected data. This dataincludes equipment specifications, and operating data includinghistorical usage data. For instance, information relating to repairhistories, in-service hours, fuel consumption, location information andoperating costs can be stored in memory storage 16.

Wireless equipment system 2 is preferably a computer-based system thatuses the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)networking protocol. Further this system 2 is particularly suitable forthe Internet, particularly with broadband Internet. Wireless system 2 isaccessible from multiple sources concerning maintenance scheduling.Different levels of security can be meted out to each system userdepending on information needs et cetera.

Wireless equipment system 2 can be implemented using a combination ofwireless technology, data handling functionality construction industryconstructs as provided, for example, by an equipment management solutionsuch as GlobalTRACS® by QUALCOMM®. An equipment management solutionautomatically collects, organizes and transmits vital informationconcerning how the equipment is being used, how much equipment is beingused as well as the location of that equipment. This information isespecially useful to entities renting, distributing, contracting orowning equipment-particularly construction equipment. The equipmentmanagement solution can track equipment use such as engine hour use asreported by a sensor tracking usage hours of a system on a piece ofequipment, such as an engine. Further, the equipment management solutioncan provide global positioning system (GPS)-based equipment locationinformation including data indicating when a piece of equipment hasmoved outside of a pre-set boundary.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of illustrating how each sensor 12 and/orcontroller 20 on a piece of equipment 4 is used to monitor or controlequipment 4 or system or function on equipment 4. In one embodiment,each sensor 12 and controller 20 on equipment 4 is connected through acontroller area network (CAN).

In one embodiment each sensor 12 and controller 20 on the same piece ofequipment can act as a CAN slave device connected to a CAN mastercontroller 5. Master controller 5 includes antenna 21 which is used inconnection with transmitting and receiving Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA) signals. However, other communications systems for use inconnection with antenna 21 are contemplated, e.g., Time DivisionMultiple Access, et cetera.

In one aspect of an embodiment, a J1939 higher layer protocol is usedfor the CAN. The SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers published theJ1939 set of specifications supporting SAE class A, B, and Ccommunication functions. A J1939 network connects electronic controlunits (ECU) within a truck and trailer system. The J1939 specificationwhich pertains to engine, transmission, and brake message definitions isespecially useful for diesel engine applications. Alternatively, the SAEJ1708 specification, “Serial Data Communications between MicrocomputerSystems in Heavy Duty Vehicle Applications,” can be used.

Data received by each sensor 12 on a piece of equipment 4 is sent to CANmaster controller 5 where it is stored until downloaded by systemcontroller 22 through wireless communications link 8.

Operator controller 24 receives alerts in the form of warning messages,instructions, alarms, etc. to warn an equipment operator (not shown) ofconditions (faulty operation, etc.) sensed on equipment 4 by a sensor12, thereby allowing the operator to take or institute corrective orpreventative action.

Equipment manager 14 in conjunction with data processing center 6analyzes data received from each CAN master controller 5. As a resultthereof, equipment manager 14 issues, inter alia, maintenancerecommendations, alerts, alarms to system controller 22 which in turnforwards the same to a user control/monitoring site 26. Acontrol/monitoring site 26 can represent, for instance, the owner ofrental equipment. Through link 36, communications can be had betweeneach control/monitoring site 26 and equipment manager 14 through systemcontroller 22 pertaining to a specified piece of equipment 4.Communications over link 36 can occur by numerous ways. For instance,these communications can occur over the Internet, via e-mail, textmessages, etc. Equipment manager 14 function can adapt to inputs,requests, etc. from control/monitoring sites 26. For instance, amaintenance step can be moved up ahead of schedule at the request of acontrol/monitoring site 26.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A management system for equipment comprising: a processor locatedremotely from said equipment; at least one sensor being operable tosense a predetermined condition on said equipment; a wirelesscommunications system being operable to provide communications amongsaid processor, said sensor and said equipment, said processor beingoperable to issue an alert for said equipment in connection withreceiving an indication, from said sensor, of said predeterminedcondition, said processor being further operable to control saidequipment after issuing more than one alert for said equipment inconjunction with receiving an additional indication from said sensor ofsaid predetermined condition.
 2. A management system for equipment asrecited in claim 1 wherein said control of said equipment consists ofmeasures selected from shutting said equipment off, placing equipment ina safe mode of operation or a combination thereof.
 3. A managementsystem as recited in claim 2 wherein said safe mode of operation definesequipment operation which minimizes damage to said equipment as a resultof continued operation during the existence of said predeterminedcondition.
 4. A management system as recited in claim 1 wherein saidcommunications system is a wireless communications system.
 5. Amanagement system as recited in claim 1 wherein said communicationssystem is a mobile communications system selected from the groupconsisting of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communicationssystem, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)system, a FrequencyDivision Multiple Access System (FDMA), a satellite communicationssystem and a two-way radio communications system.
 6. A management systemas recited in claim 1 wherein said processor is operable to control saidequipment after issuing more than one alert for said equipment.
 7. Amobile terminal for monitoring and controlling equipment comprising: aplurality of sensors and at least one controller connected together in anetwork; a communications processor for enabling communications betweensaid mobile terminal and a remotely located system controller, saidcommunications processor being operable to transmit sensor signals tosaid remotely located system controller and to receive at least onealert signal in response to a predetermined sensor signal condition fromsaid system controller, said at least one controller being operable tocontrol said equipment in connection with the receipt of more than onealert signal for the same sensor signal condition after a time interval.8. A mobile terminal as recited in claim 7 wherein said at least onecontroller is operable to control said equipment in connection with thereceipt of more than one alert signal for the same sensor signalcondition.
 9. A mobile terminal as recited in claim 7 wherein saidnetwork is a controller area network (CAN).
 10. A mobile terminal asrecited in claim 7 wherein said network consists of an Ethernet or alocal area network.
 11. A mobile terminal as recited in claim 7 whereinsaid communications processor is operable to enable communicationsbetween said mobile terminal and said remotely located system controllerusing wireless communications.
 12. A mobile terminal as recited in claim11 wherein said wireless communications system is a mobilecommunications system selected from the group consisting of a CodeDivision Multiple Access (CDMA) communications system, a Time DivisionMultiple Access (TDMA)system, a Frequency Division Multiple AccessSystem (FDMA), a satellite communications system and a two-way radiocommunications system.
 13. A mobile terminal as recited in claim 9wherein said CAN operates according to the SAE J1939 specification. 14.A mobile terminal as recited in claim 9 wherein said CAN operatesaccording to the SAE J1708 specification.
 15. A method of monitoring andcontrolling equipment from a remote location comprising: receivingsensor information from a sensor monitoring said equipment; generating afirst alert to said equipment from a remote location in response todetecting a predetermined equipment condition at sensor; generating atleast one additional alert to said equipment from said remote locationin response to detecting said predetermined equipment conditionsubsequent to said first alert after a time interval; controlling saidequipment after said equipment is unresponsive to said at least oneadditional alert.
 16. A method of monitoring and controlling equipmentas recited in claim 15 wherein controlling said equipment occurs aftersaid equipment is unresponsive to a second alert.
 17. A method ofmonitoring and controlling equipment as recited in claim 15 where saidcontrolling said equipment consists of measures selected from shuttingsaid equipment off and placing said equipment in a safe mode ofoperation.
 18. A method of monitoring and controlling said equipment asrecited in claim 17 wherein said safe mode of operation definesequipment operation which minimizes damage.
 19. A method as recited inclaim 15 wherein said alerts are generated to said equipment from saidremote location using a wireless communications system.
 20. A method asrecited in claim 19 wherein said communications system is a mobilecommunications system is a mobile communications system selected fromthe group consisting of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)communications system, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)system, aFrequency Division Multiple Access System (FDMA), a satellitecommunications system and a two-way radio communications system.